As the capital of Gansu province, Lanzhou is a large city with many shopping options. The city is also a good place for those shopping for handicrafts. Except from the popular products, such as the Jiuguang luminous jade cups, jade carvings and silk carpets, Lanzhou has its own specialties that can be purchased in many of the craft stores and stalls in the city. Its local specialties include the Jincheng Babao Melon-skin and Pebble Carvings, and Tao Ink Stones

Jincheng Babao Melon-skin Carving

The Jincheng Babao melon-skin carved bowls, a traditional product of the Lanzhou people, are made from a kind of melon native to Gansu province, the golden melon. Firstly, the pulp of the melon is removed, and left the skin dry until hard. Then, the desiccated surface is carved into various pictures and patterns by craftsmen. It looks very delicate and beautiful.

Stone Carvings

An interesting specialty of Lanzhou is the colorful pebble carvings. They can be found and bought in art and craft stores throughout the city. The pebbles collected from the bed of the Yellow River are carved by local artisans. The carvings selected are mainly dependent on the original shapes of the stones, a kind of quartzite. Stones with beautiful natural colors and wonderful shapes are carefully selected. These stones are truly works of art worth owning.

Tao Ink Stone

For those tourists interested in Chinese calligraphy, when touring in Lanzhou, the best choice is Tao ink stone of Lanzhou. Together with the Duan ink stone in Guangdong province and the Jiao ink stone in Anhui province, Tao ink stone of Lanzhou is asserted as one of the three best ink stones in China. The ink stone's distinguishing features lies in its beauty and style. Good quality stones are frequently given as gifts among wealthy Chinese. In 1998, when Hong Kong officially returned to the China, as a gift, a Tao ink stone was presented to the SAR government by Gansu province. The most famous aspect of the ink stones is that when its lid is on, the lines and patterns of the original stone merge with the lid line to give the impression that the stone is whole.

Recommended Shopping Places in Lanzhou

Name: Guwan Zihua Cheng (The City of Antique and Calligraphy and Paintings)
Location: Yuantan, Lanzhou

Name: Gansu Antique Shop
Location: No. 3 Xijin Xi Lu

Name: Gansu Cuibao Zhai
Location: No. 263 Donggang Xi Lu

Name: Gansu Art Service Store
Location: No. 267 Donggang Xi Lu

Name: Gansu Overseas Tourist Department Store
Location: No.288 Donggang Xi Lu

Name: Shulin Zhai
Location: No.22 Qingyang Lu

Name: Lanzhou Minbai Department Store
Location: No. 7 Minzhu Lu

Name: Shiji Chuntian Department Store
Location: Century Square (Shiji Guangchang), Nanguan Shizi (Nanguan crossing)

Name: Lanzhou Guofang Baisheng Shopping Center
Location: -1/F to 5/F, International Exhibition Center, Dongfanghong Square, Chengguan District

Name: Beijing Hualian Supermarket
Anning Store Location: No.53, Anning Xi Lu, Anning District
Xigu Store Location: No.1-2, Xigu Huayuan (garden) Xiaoqu, Xigu District

Name: Beijing Hualian Hongxing Store
Location: East to the Railway Station, Chengguan District

Name: Lanzhou Department Store
Location: No.275 Qingyang Lu

Name: Tianma Department Store

Location: No.361 Tianshui Lu

Special Touring Regions:

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